Arsenal Chairman Hammers Home Final Nail In Alexis Sanchez Coffin

Arsenal chairman Chips Keswick has delivered some unfortunate news regarding Alexis Sanchez’s contract situation and it shows a poor club philosophy.

Arsenal absolutely must find a way to extend the contract of Alexis Sanchez but, according to the recent statements by the club chairman, that seems even less likely than it did before. Before I delve into my scalding response, here is what Sir Chips Keswick had to say (after announcing a £12.3m profit).

“As expected Premier League broadcasting revenues have had a direct impact on player costs both in terms of transfer prices and player wage demands,” he said, as quoted by the Metro.

“Whilst these are the market forces that have contributed directly over time to the success of the Premier League I would sound a note of caution in light of the very material contractual commitments to future wages that clubs are taking on.”

What I’ve taken from this statement is, “we get that wages are increasing, but we refuse to follow suit with our own wages.”

Which is borderline infuriating and proves yet again that the primary drive of this club is profit.

If ever there was a time to be “irrational”, I believe this would be that time. The man who has the most ability to lift Arsenal out of their trophy-less drought is worth whatever the hell he wants to be paid. And it’s not like he is going to be asking for Chinese Super League wages. A raise, sure, but not ridiculous.

Keswick is saying that they won’t give Alexis what he wants. That they will negotiate tooth and nail to keep his wages as low as possible.

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How (expletive) backwards is that? You fork, over £110,000 a week to Theo Walcott, which is an egregious waste of money, and you won’t bend a bit and give the most important player this team has had in the past decade a somewhat “irrational” wage increase? After you’ve announced yet another profit for the club?

And then he goes onto say that they are investing their money in the club’s youth system. That’s just fine and dandy, but that youth system has given us nothing but Alex Iwobi and sure as hell isn’t going to give us another Alexis Sanchez anytime soon.

This is absolutely infuriating. Clearly our chairman is so far removed from what this club is supposed to be and that has to come from his utter lack of footballing background. This is a business to him, not a team.

Newsflash – businesses don’t have screaming, adoring fans. They don’t cram 60,000+ people, who spend a lot of money to be there, into an arena to watch an office file their taxes. This is about the sport, not the profit, but no one seems to get that.

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If I’m Alexis, this is the final nail. Why would you stay at a club that clearly has higher priorities than what you are here for?

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